Cheung Chau is a small island about 12km/71/2 miles west of Hong Kong (an hour by ferry from Central). The population of almost 40,000 has no traffic problems: there are no motor vehicles on the island except electric cars, and people go around on foot. Life goes at a leisurely pace here. The island is a favorite weekend excursion with the people of Hong Kong.
The Bun Festival is celebrated annually on Cheung Chau Island. Most of the festivities take place near Pak Tai Temple. Bamboo towers are decorated with sweet buns, and on the final day of the celebration a street procession makes its way through the streets.
The bay on the west side of Cheung Chau Island provides an anchorage for hundreds of fishermen's junks; on the other side is the Tung Wan beach, with many restaurants; and on the hill between the two bays stands the Pak Tai Temple, built in 1783. This Taoist temple, in a style typical of its period, contains a sword of the Sung dynasty (920-1279) which was recovered by fishermen from the sea just off the coast and presented to the god Pi Tai, to whom the temple is dedicated.
Some 4m/13ft above the road to the right of Tung Wan beach are a number of small but interesting prehistoric rock engravings. They are, however, difficult to find.
At the southwestern tip of the island, near Sai Wan, are a temple dedicated to Tin Hau, queen of heaven and patroness of fishermen, and a cave in which the notorious pirate Po Chai once had his lair. From here, barely two hundred years ago, he preyed on shipping in the South China Sea with a fleet of 300 junks until the coming of the British put an end to his activities. The colorful Bun Festival is held here in spring.
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Cheung Chau Island
